Ian Callum admitted that it took its inspiration from the famous E-Type when he designed the XK, and the open-top version was even more convincing than its coupe sibling.
When the 2006 XK was introduced, its predecessor, the XK8, was already ten-years-old. The British company knew that it needs a new vehicle, not just another facelift. With that said, Ian Callum and his team gathered and designed another astonishing vehicle, but with more aluminum to make the car more spirited to drive than the XK8. While they were working on the look, the engineering team worked hard to find a way to install a new 5.0-liter engine under the hood.

The design team took its inspiration from one of the most beautiful cars in the world, the E-Type. Enzo Ferrari himself made that statement about the E-Type, so blame him if I’m wrong. The oval-shaped grille of the XK resembled the glorious ’60s model from Jaguar. Its odd-looking headlights were unique on the market, and the deep holes for the fog-lights looked like they were designed for the machine-guns in a James Bond car. The canvas-top offered good sound and thermal insulation.

Inside, the British luxury could have been at its best. Apart from some Ford Fiesta buttons and switches, everything else was luxurious. The expensive Connely leather and the wood trims completed an atmosphere of exclusivity and good taste. While the front seats were made for comfort, the rear ones were fit only for a small child since the legroom was almost non-existent.

Apart from the ferocious XKR, the rest of the range was fitted with a choice of three V8 engines. All of them were paired to a 6-speed automatic gearbox and sent the power to the rear wheels.